Draper’s resilience shines as he defeats Vukic to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open, setting up a clash with third seed Carlos Alcaraz.
Jack Draper etched his name into Australian Open history on Friday night, becoming only the seventh man to win three consecutive five-set matches en route to reaching the fourth round.
Draper’s resilience shone through as he triumphed over Aleksandar Vukic in an epic clash, 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6(5), 7-6(8), at Melbourne Park.
The No.15 seed had already endured marathon victories against Mariano Navone and Thanasi Kokkinakis earlier in the tournament.
Against Vukic, Draper once again found himself pushed to the limit, recovering from a two-sets-to-one deficit to clinch the match in just under four hours.
Reflecting on his performance, Draper expressed pride in his physical and mental resilience.
“Three five-set matches in a row – that’s not something you see often,” Draper said.
“It’s a testament to the work I’ve put in. I’m proud of my progress but know there’s still more to achieve.”
Vukic, making his first third-round Grand Slam appearance, fought valiantly and showcased his talent on the big stage. Despite the loss, the Australian drew positives from his performance.
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“I left it all out there,” Vukic said. “Jack is an incredible competitor, and while it’s bittersweet, I’ll take a lot of confidence from this match moving forward.”
Statistically, the match was evenly contested, with Draper hitting 74 winners to 45 unforced errors, while Vukic managed 81 winners against 53 errors.
The Brit ultimately prevailed in two tense tiebreakers, demonstrating poise under pressure.
Draper’s victory sets up a tantalising round-of-16 clash with third seed Carlos Alcaraz, who is among the favorites to win the title with the top tennis betting sites.
While Draper enters the match as a +600 underdog with the top online sportsbooks compared to Alcaraz’s -1000 odds, he remains undeterred, citing his aggressive play as key to his chances.
“I need to take my chances,” Draper said. “Against top players like Carlos, opportunities are rare. I have to be brave and make the most of them.”
The upcoming showdown with Alcaraz promises to be a highlight of the tournament, as Draper seeks to extend his remarkable run in Melbourne.
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